Among the many reasons to love Carrie Fisher was the fact that she never minced a single word — especially when talking about Donald Trump. Remember that time Carrie Fisher — who never downplayed her history of engagement with cocaine — suggested Trump was high during a presidential debate?

The feminist Leia belied her royal title, rising to become General Organa in the new “Star Wars” series that began with the release of “The Force Awakens” last year. The second episode in that series was shot before her untimely death, but while we await that coming opportunity to appreciate her once more, we can still enjoy her wonderful, tartly comic performance in the first series.

Beloved actress and author Carrie Fisher, who rose to fame as Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” films before becoming a leading advocate for those living with mental illness, died on Tuesday at the age of 60.

Fisher, 60, was described by her younger brother, Todd Fisher, as being in critical condition, and remained under medical treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a Los Angeles hospital several hours after becoming ill.

December 24, 2016

Newsletter Signup

Know First. Smart politics and smart living delivered to your inbox every morning.